Rugby Football History All Blacks Barbarians Canada British & Irish Lions Ireland Scotland Springboks USA Wales Wallabies Introduction Originally the number of players in a game of Rugby football was not limited, and there were no formal playing positions. Games at rugby school were simply played by however many boys wanted to play in a particular game. A kind of huge rolling maul developed, moving around the field since there was a very limited amount of space on the field in which to run. As the game began to be played between different schools and clubs a fixed number of players was needed. This then allowed players to start specializing in certain positions and to develop particular skills appropriate to those positions. Rugby teams were then limited to twenty players made up of seventeen forwards and three full backs whose sole job was to maintain possession if the opposition managed to hack it out the scrum. Circa 1875 the number of players in a team was reduced to fifteen (ten forwards and five backs). Today the player names, positions and numbers worn on shirts are defined by the International Rugby Board (IRB).

Players usually have the following position names and numbers although there are some local variations in namingin common use: F full back 1 & 3 Prop Along with the hooker, the loose-head and tight-head props make up what is known as the front row, which refers to their position in the scrum. To be successful, both props must be extremely strong in the neck, shoulders, upper body and legs, and they should relish head-to-head competition. While stopping their side of the scrum from moving backwards, the props also support the hooker's body weight, allowing him or her to see and strike the ball when it is put into the scrum. In the lineout, props should be able to support or lift the jumper to prevent the opposition winning the ball. Away from set pieces, props help to secure the ball when a player has been tackled, so it helps if they can combine their power with a degree of mobility. You’ll also often see them used as battering rams in attack, receiving short passes after a ruck or maul and hitting the opposition defence at pace in an attempt to occupy the defenders and make space for their own backs.

2 Hooker Lining up in the scrum between the two props, the hooker is one of the forwards’ key decision-makers. He or she will coordinate the timing at the scrum, and is also responsible for winning possession in the scrummage by hooking the ball back through the props' legs. To allow the hooker to do this effectively, the props support much of the hooker’s weight, leaving him or her free to concentrate on hooking the ball back, rather than pushing against the opposition forwards. For this reason the hooker is often the smallest member of a front-row trio. At the lineout he or she is responsible for throwing the ball in and must be able to accurately hit the lineout jumper who is expecting the ball. In open play the hooker plays a similar role to the props, securing possession at rucks and mauls, or taking short ‘crash’ passes. 4 & 5 Lock The second row forwards (also known as locks) are the engine room of the scrum and the target men in the lineout, meaning that they need to be tall, powerful players with excellent scrummaging technique and pinpoint timing.

If they bind to each other and the props too loosely in the scrum their pack will lose power, and if they are not accurate and dynamic with their lineout jumping, it offers the opposition forwards a chance to steal possession. In open play the second row’s duties have evolved from being support players at rucks and mauls to ball carriers. If a marauding second row is comfortable with the ball in hand, their bulk and power makes them very difficult to stop. 6 & 7 Flanker Open-side and blind-side flankers are often considered to be the players with the fewest set responsibilities, but as such must be excellent all-rounders with inexhaustible energy. Speed, strength, fitness, tackling and handling skills are all vital. Flankers are more often than not at the centre of the action – winning balls at the ruck and maul, collecting short passes from tackled players and making their own big tackles in open play. While they can rarely be blamed for a loss, they can certainly be the key to victory. The open-side flanker plays on the far side of the scrum from the touchline and is often smaller in size than their blind-side partner, making them more mobile around the pitch.

The blind-side flanker tends to have bigger, more physical role around the pitch, and also acts as a target jumper in the lineout. 8 Number Eight Support play, tackling and ball-carrying are the No.8’s areas of expertise, making his or her duties similar to the two flankers. Together the trio forms a unit called the back row. Binding on right at the back of the scrum, the No.8 is also the only player from the forwards who is allowed to pick the ball up from the base of the scrum. It is a move that is often used to gain vital yards when a team is scrummaging close to the opposition try line, and for it to be truly effective the No.8 must be an explosive, dynamic runner. 9 Scrum-Half Acting as the link between the forwards and the backs, the scrum half is a key player when it comes to building attacks. Playing just behind the forwards, a good scrum half will control exactly when the ball is fed out to the backs from the rear of a scrum, ruck or maul. A scrum half needs good vision, speed and awareness, quick hands and lightning reactions.

They tend to be one of the smaller players on the pitch and so rely on protection from their own forwards. An indecisive or poorly protected scrum half makes easy meat for a rampaging opposition flanker. 10 Fly-Half The heartbeat of the side and arguably the most influential player on the pitch. Almost every attack will go through the fly half, who also has the responsibility of deciding when to pass the ball out to the centres and when to kick for position. The fly half must orchestrate the team's back line, deciding what rehearsed moves to put into action and reacting to gaps in defence. He or she is also the main target for the defending team's open-side flanker and so must be strong in the tackle. The fly half has to be able to relieve territorial pressure by kicking down the field into touch, and is often the team's designated place kicker for conversions, penalties and drop goal attempts. In defence he or she will marshal the backs to ensure each opposition player is covered, and a strong-tackling fly half can snuff out opposition attacks before they start. 11 & 14 Wing Playing out wide on the side of the pitch, the winger is a team’s finisher in attack.

A winger is also often the last line of defence when they don’t have the ball and as such, pace is their major resource. 12 & 13 Centre The inside centre – who stands closest to the fly half when the backs line up – and the outside centre tend to be strong, dynamic runners with a good eye for exposing gaps in the opposition defence. In attack they tend to run very direct lines. The centres take on their opposite number in an attempt to either break the defensive line, or draw in enough opposition defenders to create space and try-scoring opportunities for their team-mates. As such they need to be strong and powerful, and when attack turns into defence, they must also be accomplished at tackling. The inside centre is often the more creative in a centre pairing and should be able to pass and kick nearly as well as the fly half. In either defence or attack, the inside centre tends to be all action – dishing out the tackles and then drawing the opposition defence. Meanwhile, the outside centre tends to be the faster of the two and the ability to offload the ball quickly to the wingers is also vital.

15 Full-back Lining up behind the entire back line, the full back is the closest thing that rugby has to a sweeper in defence. But they also receive deep kicks from the opposition, so they must be comfortable catching high balls and launching attacks from the resulting possession. As such, the full back must have enough tactical awareness to recognise when to counter-kick, and when to run with the ball, often from deep within his or her half. Having started life as a winger, ex-England, Sale and British Lions player Jason Robinson was an excellent example of a running full back who also had the ability to kick his way out of trouble – the perfect combination for a number 15. This high-pressure position is not for the faint-hearted, but those who can combine tackling, kicking, catching and running with a cool head can excel here. Player line-up Players will typically line up as follows at a scrum: Position Hierarchy Here is a hierarchy of player position naming including collective terms, the corresponding common player numbering shown in parenthesis: Forwards Notes: In some countries the term halfback refers solely to the scrum half, while in other countries it applies to both the scrum half and the fly half.

New Zealand saw advantage in having a fourth player in the three-quarters placing a forward between the half back and the three-quarters. Legend has it that the position was named by deciding that the half back was 4/8ths and the three-quarters 6/8ths, so therefore the new position must be a 5/8ths. When fly half play developed they introduced the first 5/8th and the second 5/8th. Hence the fly half is sometimes referred to as the 1st 5/8, implying a slightly deeper position than halfback and the inside centre is sometimes referred to as the 2nd 5/8 implying a more forward position than a 3/4 back. Centres used to be called Centre Three-quarters and Wings, Wing Three-quarters. The term three quarters collectively describes the centers, wings and full-back. In some countries the Flankers are referred to as 'Break-aways' e.g. New Zealand. In some countries the No. 8 is referred to as the 'Last man down' e.g. New Zealand.

Additional collective terms: History of Positions Origin of the Half-Back (collective name for Fly-half and Scrum-half) Originally the rules described three full backs which was later changed to one and the other two players were then stationed at a midpoint between the forwards and the full backs and were to be called half-way backs. In time this was shortened to half backs. Their role and that of the full back continued to be to fall on the ball in the event of the opposition hacking it out of the scrum. Origin of Fly-Half In 1878 at Cardiff, in Wales, they developed a short pass to one of the half backs who would then go charging ahead with the ball. He became known as the flying half back which in time was shortened to the fly half. In New Zealand the fly half is sometimes referred to as the 1st 5/8, implying a slightly deeper position than halfback. Origin of the three-quarters In the 1880’s the game had spread to the Universities, particularly Cambridge and Oxford, whose input lead to far more thought being put into the game and the style of play that was developed.

They were instrumental in the development of the games tactics, the introduction of need to practice and the coaching of the players. In addition they re organised the scrum, developed short passes amongst the forwards and long passes amongst the backs. This led to the need for more players to be placed in the back line between the halves and the full back. The fraction between a half and a whole (full) is three-quarters. Note: One alternative theory for why they are called three-quarters is that these new positions were called 'quarters' and the fact that three of them were put in this position led to them being known as three-quarters. But this seems unlikely since there is an obvious progression from Half-back (half-way from the from of the scrum to the full back), Five-eighths, three-quarters, full back.. Scotland claim the honour of having first introduced a third three-quarter, against Ireland in 1881. Origin of the centre and wings The middle player being called the centre with the two on his outside called wings. Fouth three-quarter The introduction of a fourth player into the three-quarters was to a large extent, accidental, with Wales again being allowed to take the honour.

In 1885 Cardiff were due to play a tough match away from home and their first choice centre was not available so they promoted one Frank E. Hancock from the second side in his place. Hancock was a great success scoring two vital tries. When the Cardiff selectors sat down to pick their team for the next match they were keen to revert to their original team, but they were most reluctant to drop Hancock, so they compromised by introducing a fourth three-quarter. Within two years Wales had introduced it at international level. The New Zealanders were quick to see the advantage of having a fourth player in the three-quarters. Their solution was to pull a forward out the pack and put him between the half back and the three-quarters. Their problem was what did they call the new position. Legend has it that consent was reached by deciding that the half back was 4/8ths and the three-quarters 6/8ths, so therefore the new position must be a 5/8ths, a name that has continued to this day in that country. When fly half play developed they introduced the first 5/8th and the second 5/8th. Origin of the Number 8 This is a two-part question.

In summary, the No 8 position evolved in South Africa, but was christened in New Zealand. a) How did the No.8 evolve? The position now known as No.8 evolved in South Africa in the 1920s. Before the Great War a number of scrum patterns were tried. Most involved a three-man front-row in a 3-3-2 or more commonly 3-2-3 pack. Paddy Carolin of the 1906 Springboks claimed to have experimented with a 3-4-1 formation. New Zealand most notably always used a 2-3-2 system. Their so-called diamond scrum had a rover to act as a detached winging forward who could also double as a second scrum-half. The Law dictating that a scrum must have a three-man front-row did not come into effect until the 1951-2 season (Law 15c.). New Zealand apart, forwards in Test matches were selected primarily for their all-round skills - there were no fixed position in the early days.

The first forwards up for a scrum were the first to pack down, although by the early 1900s there was usually one player specifically chosen to hook and one to act as a wing forward. There is evidence that early Australian and French packs experimented with fixed places for their players under the 3-2-3 formation, but it wasn't until 1923 that Wavell Wakefield, as pack leader, allocated fixed positions to England's forwards. Two were devolved to prop up their hooker, while two formed the second-row. Behind them was a back-row of two wing-forwards either side of a middle man who was then called the lock or lock-forward - the position from which the No 8 has evolved. England won the Grand Slam that year and specialism became the norm in the Home Unions. Meanwhile in South Africa, Oubaas Markötter of the famous Stellenbosch club developed the 3-4-1 pack formation to curb a fly-half named Bennie Osler, who was the master kicker and tactician for their great rivals at the University of Cape Town.

Markötter's new scrum was essentially the 3-2-3 scheme but with the wing-forwards from the back-row flanking the second-row instead - and therefore closer to the fly-half. That helped to address the Osler problem, but other advantages of the formation became apparent. With only one man at the back, the ball was heeled from the scrum more quickly, while the opposing scrum-half and loose forwards found it harder to disrupt possession. In addition, the inward push from the flankers at the scrum channelled considerable drive through their props and put extra pressure on the opposition hooker. All South Africa embraced the 3-4-1 scrum and by 1928 it was the preferred formation for the Springboks in their home series with the All Blacks. In the first Test their scrum was a revelation to the New Zealanders, who were demolished 17-0. It wasn't until a few years later, however, that modern back-row play evolved. Markötter considered how to make the best use of a gifted Stellenbosch threequarter named André McDonald, who was not fast enough for a back and not big enough for a forward.

McDonald was moved to the solo position at the back of the scrum where he inter-played with his scrum-half in attack and was deployed as a shadow flanker in defence. So the prototype for the No.8 evolved in South Africa as a much looser player than his forerunner, the lock. South Africa still sought strong forwards who could push from the back of the scrum, but attacking and defensive duties for which the prime attribute was mobility became part of the job description. The Springboks toured Britain/Ireland in 1931-32, demonstrating the new scrum formation and back-row tactics to the Home Unions, and in 1933 Australia saw them for the first time when they were beaten in a series in South Africa. By the time war broke out in 1939, most of the world's rugby-playing nations had bowed to Springbok supremacy, adopting the 3-4-1 pack and refining back-row tactics. The main dissenters were the Scots, who persisted with the old 3-2-3 system until the mid 1950s. b) When was the term No.8 first used?

It was not until the 1940s that the expression No.8 became recognised worldwide as part of rugby's lexicon. Finding a common name for the sole player at the back of the 3-4-1 scrum seems to have taken some time. In the Home Unions he was still referred to as the lock or lock-forward, as he had been in the 3-2-3 system. Australian reports of the 1937 Tests against the Springboks refer to the position as anchor-man or solo-lock. South Africans called him the eighthman (as many of the old-timers out there still do), in New Zealand he was usually the back-row or back-row forward and to the French he was le troisième ligne centre. Numbering of players in Tests was a haphazard affair until the 1960s. In the Five Nations, some teams numbered from 1 to 15 from the back, starting with the fullback and finishing with a flanker (so that the back-row man was number 14). France and Ireland often numbered in reverse starting from the front-row, making the middle-man of the loose trio number 7.

Wales even used letters throughout the 30s and 40s making him letter N! Players on tour were numbered 1 to 30 and kept their allocated numbers for Tests. Old Test programmes show that the earliest efforts to number the back-row man with jersey eight were in New Zealand's South Island during the 1930s. For NZ v Australia at Dunedin in 1936 and NZ v SA at Christchurch in 1937 the All Blacks' back-row man wore this number. Abbreviating the South African term eighthman to No.8 originated there and the noted New Zealand rugby historian, Arthur Swan, was among the first to refer to him in print as the "number-eight". When post-war Tests resumed in 1946, New Zealand led the way in regularly numbering their back-row man in the eight jersey. Curiously, South Africa's Hennie Muller, who played Test rugby between 1949 and 1953 and was universally hailed as the definitive eighthman of his day, never wore an eight shirt in a Test, although by 1951 the British press were referring to him as the team's No 8.

It was not until the 1960s that the shirt number universally matched its position's name in Test matches. Rugby Union Positions Rugby Union Positions (formerly known as Coach) Your Humble Servant Join Date Rugby Union Positions Rugby Union Positions A rugby union team is made up of 15 players: eight forwards, numbered from 1 to 8; and seven backs, numbered from 9 to 15. Depending upon the competition, there may be up to seven replacements. Each player has a fixed role and each teams will therefore play in the same formation, with only slight variations in use. Rugby union is different from other sports such as soccer with its endless number of 'formations' (4-3-3, 3-5-2 etc.) or cricket, where a player may be moved to a completely different position on the field (e.g. from silly mid-on to deep cover point). Overview Individual players' tasks are made clear by the number they wear, as this indicates their position (unless they are a substitute or have switched position during the match).

This means a player does not get a personal number for his entire career, as you tend to see in most American sports or a squad number as in soccer. The IRB has laid down a numbering scheme for international matches, which is commonly adopted by other teams as well. The main role of the forwards is to gain and retain possession of the ball. They take part in set pieces of the scrum and the line-out. Generally, forwards are larger than the backs, which makes them stronger but slower. Forwards also have a role in taking the ball forwards, but generally do so by driving into the opposing forwards. The Laws of the Game define the terms prop and hooker and clearly state that a 3-2-3 formation must be used at scrums. The role of the backs is to move the game forward by running or kicking the ball. The fly-half controls how to do this. The backs tend to score more tries. The backs tend to be smaller than the forwards and as a result more agile and faster, but less strong. The following diagram locates the various positions in the 15-man team.

All members of the starting 15 wear shirts numbered from 1 to 15 and keyed to their positions (though alternatives exist); these numbers appear on the diagram below. The first eight players, known as forwards or the pack, play in the scrum. The remaining seven players play as the backs.

Rugby union positions Lock: Second row or lock forward Flanker: Wing forward or breakaway or flank or flank forward Number 8: Eightman or eighthman or lock forward Scrum half: Inside half, half-back or scrummie Fly half: Outside half, out half, stand-off, first five-eighth, first five, or pivot Inside centre: Second five-eighth or second five or centre Outside centre: Centre or Centre Threequarter Wing: Winger or Wingman or Wing Threequarter Collective terms for positions Front row: The props and hooker Tight forwards or Tight 5 or Front five: The combined front row and second row Loose forwards or Back row or Loosies:The flankers and the number 8 Half backs: Scrum half and flyhalf Midfield: Centres plus flyhalf Inside backs: The inside centre, flyhalf and scrumhalf Three-quarters:Wingers and centres Back three: The fullback and the wingers Outside backs: The outside centre, wings and full back The fly-half is alternatively called the "stand-off half", since they are the half-back that stands off from the scrum rather than close to it.

In addition, in New Zealand the fly half is referred to as the 1st 5/8, implying a slightly deeper position than halfback (the term halfback can cause confusion since some countries use it to refer solely to the scrum half, while other countries apply it to both the scrum half and the fly half) and the inside centre as the 2nd 5/8 implying a more forward position than a 3/4 back. Flankers may also, though this is more historic usage, be referred to as "wing-forwards" (it's also an archaic term for an obsolete position associated with the old 2-3-2 scrum, popular in New Zealand in the 1920s), or together with the No 8 as "loose-forwards", since they can quickly detach from scrums. In Australia, the second row of the scrum are often referred to as "second row", the position behind them as "lock", the forwards on either side of the lock as "breakaways" (some apply the term to the number eight as well as the flankers), and the fly-half as "five-eighth".

As can be seen there is a lot of variation in the names of the positions. The IRB has standardised the names, yet the alternative names are still as common as ever before. A problem with standardised names is that the positions themselves are not as standard as they might seem. For example, there is a slight difference between left and right centre on the one hand and inside and outside centre on the other. Wingers can be played on the open side and the blind side (also known as strong side and weak or closed side) rather than left and right and there are also left and right flankers. Backs 15. Full back The role of the full back is primarily defensive; they stand back to cover defensive options as a 'sweeper' behind the main line of defence removed from the other backs. As the last line of defence good tackling skills are required. They also have to catch the high kicks referred to as "up and unders" or "bombs". Having taken a kick, the full back may counter-attack or punt forwards, so speed and good kicking skills are required. Full backs sometimes act as main goalkickers.

In attack, the full back is often positioned behind the back line and runs into the back line at pace and may act as either a decoy runner or an extra man creating an overlap. 14. and 11. Wing The wings act as "finishers" to finish movements by scoring tries. The idea being that the space should be created by the forwards and backs inside the wingers so once they receive the ball they have a clear run to use their speed and agility to score tries. They are often the quickest members of the team and need to able to jink and side step to finish off scoring situations. They must also be good tacklers, if the other team get past them a big gain or a try is on the cards. They also often act as additional full backs on opposition kicks. A modern use of the wing is as a link player. They retain all the traditional skills of a wing, but are able to combine these with skills more traditionally associated with half backs. As the play goes through multiple phases the scrum half or fly half may be taken out play, if this occurs the blind side wing can step in to perform a creative role. 13. Outside centre & 12.

Inside centre Centres need to have a strong all-round game: they need to be able to break through opposition lines and pass the ball accurately. When attack turns into defence they need to be strong in the tackle. Usually the two centres are divided into outside centre and inside centre, though sometimes teams play with left and right centres. The outside is typically the lighter, more agile of the two centres. They are the "rapiers" that are given the ball, normally via the fly half, to make breaks through the opposition backs before offloading to the wingers after drawing the last line of defence. An outside centre should be very strong, fast and able to pass with pinpoint accuracy under pressure. The inside centre tends to be the larger of the two centres and the largest back. In defence or attack, the inside centre is always in the thick of the action, drawing the opposition's defence, making the breaks to make the space for the outside centre and dishing out the tackles in defence along with the forwards. Some of the skills of the fly-half, such as distribution and kicking, can be advantageous to inside centres, as they may be expected to act as fly-halves if the normal fly-half is involved in a ruck or maul.

10. Fly-half Fly half is short for flying half back because they take the ball on the run. They are probably the most influential players on the pitch. The fly half is the person who makes key decisions during a game such as whether to kick for space, move the ball wide or run with the ball themselves. They should be very fast, able to kick with both feet, have brilliant handling skills, and operate well under pressure. Games are rarely won on tries alone, which makes the fly-half the most important player in the side as they are usually the side's kicker, and therefore main points-scorer. 9. Scrum-half Scrum halves form the all-important link between the forwards and the backs. They normally act as the 'General' for the forwards and are always at the centre of the action. A scrum half is normally relatively small but with a high degree of vision, the ability to react to situations very quickly, and good handling skills. They are often the first tackler in defence and are behind every scrum, maul or ruck to get the ball out and maintain movement.

They put the ball into the scrum and collect it afterwards; they also are allowed to stand further forward than other backs at a line-out to try to catch knock downs from the jumper. It is also not unusual to have talkative scrum-halves in competitive situations. Though technically illegal, most scrum-halves will subtly alert the referee to fouls and infringments commited by the opposing team. Forwards 1. Loosehead prop & 3. Tighthead prop The role of both the loose- and tighthead props is to support the hooker in the scrum and to provide effective, dynamic support for the jumpers in the line-out. Props are provide the main power in the push forward in the scrum, and it is for this reason that they need to be exceptionally strong. Under modern rules non-specialists are not allowed to play as props as they are key to making sure that the scrum does not collapse, which can be very dangerous. A tighthead prop is so called because they pack down on the right-hand side of the scrum and so their head fits between the opposing loosehead prop and hooker.

In contrast, the loosehead prop packs down on the left-hand side where their head is outside that of the opposing tighthead prop. Although it may look to the neutral observer that the two positions are quite similar (and some players have the ability to play on both sides of the scrum), the technical challenges of each are quite different. The laws of the game require the tighthead prop to bind with his right arm outside the left upper arm of his opposing loosehead prop and similarly they restrict what the loosehead prop can do with his left arm. Although the scrum half may put the ball in on either side of the scrum, he is unlikely to choose the tighthead side because otherwise the opposing hooker would be between him and his own hooker. Hence, the laws implicitly require the loosehead prop to be on the left side of the scrum. Props are also in the position of being able to direct the movement of the scrum in moving side to side to prevent the other teams scrum from "wheeling" the set scrum and forcing another "put in" from the opposing side 2.

Hooker The hooker uses their feet to 'hook' the ball in the scrum, because of the pressure put on the body by the scrum it is considered to be one of the most dangerous positions to play. They also normally throw the ball in at line-outs, partly because they are normally the shortest of the forwards, but more usually beacuse they are the most skillfull of the forwards. When line-outs go wrong the hooker is often made a scapegoat even though the fault may actually lie with the jumpers. Hookers have more in common with back row forwards than props or locks as they have a roving role at line-outs and do not push as much in the scrum as other front row forwards. 4. & 5. Lock Locks are almost always the tallest players on the team and so are the primary targets at line-outs. At line-outs, locks must jump aggressively to catch the ball and get it to the scrum half or at least get the first touch so that the ball comes down on their own side. The two locks stick their heads between the two props and the hooker in the scrums. They are also responsible for keeping the scrum square and provide the power to shift it forward.

(This position is referred to as the "engine room".) Locks are normally tall, very athletic and have an excellent standing jump along with good strength. They also make good ball carriers, bashing holes in the defence around the ruck and maul. 6. Blindside flanker & 7. Openside flanker The players with the fewest set responsibilities and therefore the position where the player should have all round attributes: speed, strength, fitness, and handling skills. Flankers are always involved in the game, as they are the real ball winners in broken play, especially the no. 7. Flankers do less pushing in the scrum than the tight five, but need to be fast as their task is to break quickly and cover the opposing half-backs if the opponents win the scrum. At one time flankers were allowed to break away from the scrum with the ball. Flankers can be broken down into opensides (occasionally known as strong side), who attach themselves to the scrum on whichever side is further from the touchline and blindsides (occasionally known as weak side or closed side), who attach themselves to the scrum on whichever side is closer to the touchline.

Since most of the back play is usually on the open side where there is more space it is usually the openside flanker's job to be the first to the breakdown of play and get their hands on any loose ball (or to cause a breakdown by tackling the ball carrier or otherwise harrying him into error). At a scrum where the ball has been won by the opposition they have the best view of when the ball is out. As soon as this happens they will generally break and quickly close them down, reducing the time they have to kick or pass. The openside is normally smaller, faster and more mobile as they start play nearer to the potential action and needs to be the first person to arrive at the breakdown. The blindside flanker on the other hand must be able to stop a blindside move and if the play goes openside he must then get to the breakdown as quickly as possible where he may be needed to tidy up after the openside. While he must be fast he doesn't need to be as fast as the openside and his role is more of a stabilizer than havoc-wreaker. They are generally larger as they have a more physical role to play at the line-out and may well be used as a jumper.

Flankers are not always divided into opensides and blindsides: French teams tend not to make a distinction between the two roles, and usually play left and right rather than open and blind. Nor do shirt numbers necessarily denote which role a flanker plays. South African teams tend to play the faster, more agile 'fetcher' in the six shirt, while the larger flanker wears seven. 8. Number eight Number eight is the only position that does not have a specific name and is simply referred to as 'number eight'. The modern number eight has the physical strength of a forward along with the speed and skill of a back. The number eight packs down at the rear of the scrum, controlling the movement and feeding the ball to the scrum-half. The number 8 is the position where the ball enters the backline from the scrum and hence both fly half and inside centre take their role from the number 8 who as the last player in the scrum can elect to pick and run with the ball like a back. No other forward player from a scrum can legally do this. As a result the number 8 has the opportunities as a back to run from set plays.

Normally tall and athletic and used as an option to win the ball from the back of the lineout. Like flankers they do less of the pushing than locks or props, but need to be quick to cover opposition half-backs. A number eight should be a key ball winner in broken play, and occasionally a 'battering rams' at the front of rucks. 0 Rugby Positions Explained: Forwards | iSport.com Rugby Positions Explained: Forwards Rugby Positions Explained: Forwards There are essentially two groups of players on each side of a rugby match: The Forwards and the Backs . Many comparisons have been made about the different characteristics of these two groups, ranging in nature from mostly objective observations (forwards are big; backs are fast) to more subjective associations (forwards are meatheads with very limited ball-handling skills; backs are dainty creatures who don’t like to get their uniforms dirty). Although the subjective comparisons are usually humorous and an excellent source of debate, this explanation of the different rugby positions – including various names and responsibilities inherent in each – will strive for an objective tone, in the hopes that doing so will make it easier to understand the identity of each position.

This guide will feature information about the various Forwards positions in rugby. For information on the Backs positions, please go to the Rugby Positions Explained: Backs guide. Life in the Pack The forwards of a team wear jerseys numbered 1 through 8 in Union, and 8 through 13 in League. Forwards are the bigger of the two groups of players; the collective group of forwards is also referred to as the ‘pack,’ which is primarily involved in the scrums, rucks, mauls and line-outs of a match. Though the majority of the ball-carrying is done by the backs, sometimes forwards are used to punch the ball straight ahead short distances. In these instances, the forward is expected to charge straight ahead, either running over people or carrying them as long as possible. It’s not unusual to see forwards carry the ball close to the try line, as they can usually keep running after the first hit or two by opposing players. Whoso would be a man, must be a non-conformist, and preferably play in the pack.

Ralph Waldo Emerson 19th Century American Author & Philosopher Here is a list of the assorted forward positions, including the responsibilities for each and different jersey numbers/names with which they’re associated, depending on the code of rugby: Props Prop s wear numbers 1 &3 in Union rugby, and 8 & 10 in League rugby. There are two props in a pack, called loosehead (left prop) and tighthead (right prop). The two names refer to the side of the scrum on which they reside, and more specifically how they align with the opposing team’s pack during a scrum. The left prop is called 'loosehead' because that player only meets up with the other team’s prop during a scrum, meaning that player's head is unbound on both sides, and loose. The right prop is called 'tighthead' because that player’s head is between the prop and hooker of the other team, making for a tighter fit. Both sides demand enormous strength and attention to technique.

However, the tighthead position is seen as the more difficult and important of the two because of the fact that the tighthead prop has to deal with the opposition pushing from two sides, compared to the loosehead prop having only one player to push against. Regardless of which side a prop occupies, they’re almost always the heaviest and strongest of the forwards. Along with the hooker – who is less concerned with pushing, and more concerned with raking the ball back after a put in – the props are the front of the pack, and must provide the strongest force of resistance to the other team’s pack during a scrum. They are also critical in both winning and supporting rucks and mauls, and play important parts during a line-out by either lifting a jumper or binding on to the ball carrier. Hooker The Hooker wears number 2 in Union, and number 9 in League. Regardless of the association to a certain ‘profession’, the position of Hooker gets its name from the primary responsibility of that player during a scrum, namely ‘hooking’ the ball back with a foot after it’s been rolled in.

Still of a decent size (but not nearly as big as the props), the hooker resides between both props, and is supported by the props by tightly binding on with them to the point that the hooker is able to free up one foot for raking the ball. Because the props on either side of the hooker will need both feet on the ground to push as much as possible, by raking the ball backwards the hooker is the first player with a chance to secure possession of the ball during a scrum. The hooker is also the player responsible for throwing the ball in during a line-out. Along with helping on rucks and mauls, the hooker usually dictates the movement of the forwards during a match, setting up a short run by another forward or instructing other forwards on where to position themselves when on defense. In rugby League, the hooker is also commonly responsible for acting as the ‘Dummy-half’, which refers to the person that passes the ball out after the ball carrier has been tackled. Locks There are two Lock s in a pack, with no difference inherent to their position in, or responsibilities during, the scrum.

Locks wear numbers 4 & 5 in Union, and 11 & 12 in League. They support the props and hooker during a scrum, both by binding on underneath and keeping the front row (props and hooker) tight, and by providing additional pushing strength. They are often the tallest players on the team, and will do the majority of the jumping during a line-out. Locks are also considered to be better ball carriers than most of the other forwards. Like all other forwards, they are involved in most of the rucks and mauls that take place during a game. As both locks make up the second row of a pack, the position itself is also commonly referred to as ‘second row’, and in rugby League these players are known as ‘Second-row Forwards’. Flankers There are two Flanker s in the pack that wear numbers 6 & 7, but the flanker position only exists in Union rugby. Much like locks, there are two flankers in a pack. Unlike locks, however, there are two different names for the flankers, 'Blindside' and 'Openside,' depending on which side of the scrum they’re located.

The blindside flanker will support whichever lock is positioned closest to the nearest touch-line (also known as the blind side of the pitch) by binding on at the side. The openside flanker does the same thing from the lock closest to the open side of the pitch (the side furthest from the touch line). Both flankers should be taller/bigger players, capable of moving with some speed yet maintaining a high level of physicality. No forward is allowed to disengage from the scrum until the ball is called out (except the eight man in some instances). So because the flankers are located on either side of the pack, they’re usually the first forwards to engage in play (along with the eight man). Depending on which side won the scrum, the flanker will usually either make a play on the opposing team’s scrum half – the first player on the other team to play the ball from a scrum – or act as a passing option from the scrum half on their team if they won the scrum. For the same reasons, flankers are expected to be the first players to go after the ball when it’s loose or turned over.

Either way, flankers are sometimes a temporary connection between forwards and backs, as they often are involved with both groups during a match. The exception to this characteristic concerns League teams, as the flanker positions don’t exist in the League code of rugby. Eight Man The Eight Man is the forward located at the very rear of the pack, and occupies the spot where the scrum half picks up the ball from a scrum. In Union rugby, the eight man is also referred to as the No. 8, as that's the number worn by the eight man; in League it's number 13. The normal eight man is similar to a lock in terms of physical size, though the eight man wants to be slightly faster than the locks, instead of slightly stronger. The eight man supports the locks by binding on with them from behind, providing extra stability and a platform from which the locks can drive forward. The eight man also drives, but is less concerned with pushing and more concerned with securing the ball to make it easy for the scrum half to pick it up. Along with the locks and hooker, the eight man is a regular fixture in rucks and mauls, and is sometimes an additional jumper in line-outs.

In rugby League, the equivalent of the eight man is called the loose forward, and is both located and responsible for the same things as an eight man. The Pack: Eight handsome burly guys whom you'd want to marry your daughter. They are intelligent, elegant, sensitive and sweet. Truly the ideal men. Anonymous The most unique quality of the position is that the eight man is allowed to disengage from the scrum and pick up the ball, much like the scrum half does, though the scrum half is never considered part of the scrum. This player effectively transfers from being a part of the scrum to the player that restarts play outside of it. Because of this allowance, the eight man is sometimes included in the back-line schemes to run with the ball. Forwards Sub-categories The pack (forwards), aside from being broken up into individual positions, is also sub-categorized according to the players’ locations in the scrum, and their overall responsibilities: Front Row (Union and League): The Front Row consists of both props and the hooker, who all make up the first line of players on each team in a scrum.

Tight Five (Union only): The Tight Five are composed of the front row (props and hooker) and both locks, or the second row. They’re referred to as the tight five because all five of these players bind together tightly before a scrum, compared to the flankers and eight man who are also attached, but not as tightly. Loose Forwards (Union only): Though ‘loose forward’ is an actual position in the League code of rugby, in Union the term Loose Forwards refers to the flankers and eight man, as they are not as tightly fixed to the rest of the pack (tight five) during a scrum. Back Row (League only): In League, the Back Row consists of both second row forwards and the loose forward; it’s common for players in these positions to be referred to as ‘back rowers.’ Staying Strong It is the responsibility of the forwards to handle the vast majority of physical play during the course of the match. Forwards must attack any stoppage of play, either to retain possession of the ball for their team, or to try and take it away from the other team.

While the backs score most of the points in a match, it is often due to the work of the forwards that the opportunity to score points even exists. Share this Guide: Rugby League Positions | RUGBY LEAGUE BASE Rugby League Positions Rugby League Positions A rugby league football team consists of thirteen players on the field, with four substitutes on the bench. Players are divided into two general categories: “forwards” and “backs”. Forwards are generally chosen for their size and strength. They are expected to run with the ball and attack, and to make many tackles. Forwards are often required to do a lot of hard work such as making openings for the backs and gaining metres in field position. Backs are usually smaller and faster, though a big player who can run can be of advantage in the backs. Their roles require speed and ball-playing skills, rather than just strength, to take advantage of the field position gained by the forwards. The numbering of positions is standardised. The starting side normally wear the numbers corresponding to their positions, only changing in the case of substitutions and position shifts during the game. In the Super League, players are issued with a squad number to use all season, no matter what positions they play in.

The positions and numbers are defined by the game’s laws as: Backs 2 Right Wing Three quarter 3 Right Centre Three quarter 4 Left Centre Three quarter 5 Left Wing Three quarter 6 Stand-Off Half or Five-Eighth 7 Scrum Half or Half-Back Forwards 12 Second Row Forward 13 Loose Forward or Lock Forward There are some different names used in different parts of the world. Lock, five-eighth and halfback are used in Australia, New Zealand and some surrounding countries. The same positions are known as loose forward, stand-off and scrum half respectively in the Northern Hemisphere, where halfbacks refers to both the stand-off and scrum half. Numbers 8 and 10 are both usually referred to as props but may sometimes called “Front Row Forwards”. In addition to the thirteen on-field players, there are four substitutes. Usually, they will be numbered 14, 15, 16 and 17. Each player normally keeps their number for the whole game, regardless of which position they play in.

That is, if player number 14 replaces the fullback, for example, player 14 will wear the number 14 for the whole game, and not change shirts to display the number 1. Backs Generally, the backline consists of smaller and faster players. The term “outside backs” is sometimes used to refer to the centres and wings (positioned towards the outer edges of the field), while “the halves” refers to the halfback and five-eighth. Fullback – Numbered 1, This position calls for all-round ball-playing ability and speed. The fullback is the last line of defence, standing behind the main line of defenders. Defensively, fullbacks must be able to chase and tackle any player who breaks the first line of defence, and must be able to catch kicks made by the attacking side. Their role in attack is usually as a support player but also come into the line to create an extra man in attack. Wing – Also known as wingers. There are two wings in a rugby league team, numbered 2 and 5, positioned on each side of the field. They generally are among the fastest players in a team, with the speed to finish an attacking move.

Centre – There are two centres, right and left, numbered 3 and 4 respectively. They are usually positioned outside the halves and inside the wings.They are usually medium sized. Or, as is now common place are large, fast with good footwork and an offload to pass to their wingers. Stand-off – Numbered 6, the stand-off half or five-eighth is usually responsible for directing the ball to the rest of the team in attack (hence the nickname ‘pivot’) and is often a strong kicker. A good stand-off should be a quick thinker and be able to direct his team around the park. Scrum half – Numbered 7, the scrum half back or half back is usually involved in directing his team’s play and is likely to be a very good passer. The position is sometimes referred to as “first receiver” as halfbacks are often positioned so as to be the first to receive the football from the dummy-half after a play-the-ball. This makes them important decision-makers in attack.Scrum halves are often short and fast over a short distance and should also be very capable handlers of the ball.

Forwards A rugby league forward pack consists of players who tend to be bigger and stronger than backs, and generally rely more on their strength to fulfil their roles than play-making skills. The forwards also form and contest scrums, while the backs stay out of them. Hooker – The hooker, numbered 9, packs in the middle of the scrum’s front row. Usually it is the hooker’s responsibility to operate at the dummy half position, starting the play by passing the ball to a team mate or by running himself. A hooker is usually short, strong and fast. Prop – There are two props, numbered 8 and 10, who pack in to the front row of the scrum on either side of the hooker. The props are often the two heaviest players on a team. Primarily, in attack their size and strength are utilised for running directly into the defensive line, as a kind of “battering ram” to simply gain metres. Similarly, props are relied upon to defend against such running from the opposition’s forwards. Second-row forward – Second-row forwards are numbered 11 and 12, and make up the second row of the scrum. Second-row forwards support the front rowers while attacking.

They are either used as wide-running forwards to help create room for the quicker men due to their size or as endurance athletes who can play an entire game at a consistent level in the middle of the field. They are often nicknamed “tackling machines” due to their ability to make an enormous amount of tackles each game. Loose forward – Numbered 13, the loose forward or lock packs behind the two second-rows in the scrum. From an attacking scrum they will sometimes pick the ball up themselves and run or pass. Many locks nowadays are used as a third ball player due to their ball playing skills as well as their size which they can use to break through the defence. It is customary in the NRL for each team to have a member of the back-row who can ball-play. Some notable professional locks have also played at five-eighth, as the roles can be similar. Share this:

Question: What position is no.9 in rugby league and no.2 in rugby union?
Answer: Hooker